Petra Kalive trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (2004) and has since been working professionally as an actor, director, dramaturg and facilitator. She is currently Artistic Director of Union House Theatre at Melbourne University Student Union.

Her adaptation of Peter Goldsworthy's novel 'Three Dog Night' toured nationally. She was appointed Dramaturg at Red Stitch in 2009-2012, was Assistant Dramaturg at the Malthouse in 2010, and was supported by the Australia Council to attend the New Visions/New Voices Festival at the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C. in 2012. As an actor she has worked for RealTV, Complete Works Theatre Company, Melbourne Playback, and Adelaide Festival Centre, and had many guest appearances on television, including a lead support role in Underbelly.

At Melbourne Theatre Company she has directed the Patrick White Award Winning Play 'Beached', 'The Kingdom of Cha' and worked as Assistant Director on 'Constellations'. As a director she has also worked for Sydney Theatre Company, Arena Theatre Company, Complete Works, St Martins Youth Arts Centre and Monash and Latrobe Universities Performing Arts Program. She was Co-Artistic Director of Melbourne Playback Theatre Company from 2011-2014.